Duplex match.



' J, ROCHE.

DUPLEX MATCH. APPLIOATION'IILBD my 22, 1999.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR ATTORN EY JAMES ROCHE, or *rnnmrvrnnn, eonnnc'rrou'anssrenon orelm-room's T0 wILLim E. ROCHE, or narnenromr, commorrcom, Am)elm-refiner! Pro BEATRICE w. SALMON,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 4

0F TERRYVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

DUPLEX MATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. '7, 1909.

To all whom it my concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES ROCHE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Terryville, county 'of Litchfield, State of Connecticut,have invented an Improvement in Duplex Matches, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates more especially to matches made of Wood or otherrelatively stiff and breakable material, and has for its object torovide matches of ordinary size which shail be especially ada ted forhousehold and for travelers an smokers use, each of which may be lightedtwice, as the use of one end of a match does not impair its usefulnessfor another lighting.

It is of course well understood that the principal items of cost in theproduction of matches are the cost of the wood and the preparation ofthe sticks orbodies for dipping or heading, and that the cost of thematerials of the heads and the cost of the dipping operation arerelatively unimportant items in the expense of production. My presentinvention therefore enables me to produce matches with but slightincrease in the cost of production, each of which shall have the fullefiiciency of two matches, thus efi'ec'ting an appreciable saving to theuser and furthermore producing matches for travelers use and forcarrying about the person as .for use by smokers, that will reduce thespace required for packing by onehalf; that is to say, the equivalent oftwo complete matches can be carried in the space heretofore requiredfor. one, thus enabling a smoker or any person using an appreciablequantity of matches to carry a double quantity in a pocket box or in agiven space as well as reducing the cost of matches for general use byone-half.

With these and other objects in View I have devised the novel duplexmatch which 1 I will now describe, referring to the accompanying drawingformin a part of this specification and using re erence characters toindicate the several parts.

Fi ure 1 is an elevation of my novel duplex match on an enlarged scale;-Fig. 2 a detail sectional view on a still larger scale, on the line 22in Fig. 3; Fig. 3 a transverse section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4a detail elevation on the same scale, illustrating a modified form ofbreaking point; and

.Fi 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 in ig. 4.

A denotes the body of the match or stick and B heads at each endthereof. It is of course wholly immaterial so far as the presentinvention is concerned of what material the heads are formed, that iswhether they belong to the type of matches commonly known as parlor,safety or sulfur matches, or in what manner the operation of dipping thebodies or sticks, 2'. e. forming the heads, is performed. Itissuflicient for the purposes of this specification to state that a head.B is formed at each end of the body or stick by dippin or in anyordinary or preferred manner. Illach bod or stick is divided into twosections, in icated respectively by 10 and 11, which are separated by ajoint or breaking point indicated by 12. The sections may be of even orof uneven lengths but are preferably formed of uneven length as shown inthe drawing. For example, the sections may be respectively two-fifthsand three-fifths the length of the body or stick. may be formed in anyordinary or preferred manner, it being strength of the body or stick beappreciably weakened at that point so that it may be broken thererelatively easily but without impairing the strength of the match forordinary use. For example, the breaking point may be formed, as in Figs.1, 2 and 3, by rolling or pressing a groove, specifically indicated by13, in the body of the match or by striking or pressing into the body orstick of the match one or more (three in the present instance)indentations, specifically indicated by 14. a

In use the first time, the head on the shorter section is lighted, thematch being preferably held at the breaking point to avoid thepossibility of its breaking in the lighting operation. The match is thenused in the ordinary manner, after which the used end is broken off atthe breaking point with'the fingers or by pressing it against a solidarticle and the longer or unused section of the match is replaced in thebox or retained in a suitable receptacle for use when required.

I am aware that it has been roposed to make a match of two separab ieportions each of which carries one of two cooperasimply required thatthe The breaking point tive substances which must be brought in contactto ignite thematch, but this provides for but a single ignition. I amalso aware of Patent 48,913 to Dennis, and I do not claim broadly amatch having two ignit'ing ends.

M improved match enables the user to emp 0y first one end and to breakoif the charred part of the stick or body with no liability of soilingthe fingers, so as to have still remaining ample for a second use. Inthe majority of uses of matches, less than one half of the stick or bodyis ever charred before the object of the ignition is accomplished. Theuser of a match having my improved structure can, as soon as the amp,cigar, cigarette or other article has been lighted, press the burned endagainst any} suitable or appropriate article an break 0 the charredportion at a definite point, without splintermg the unused portion; athing which it is practically impossible to accomlish with an unweakenedstick or body. he unused portion can then be restored to the box inperfect condition for a second ignition.

Having thus described my invention I claim A match comprising a bodyweakened intermediate its ends at a point nearer to one end than theother, and havin a complete igniting substance at each en In testimonwhereof I afiix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

' JAMES ROCHE. Witnesses:

PATRICK W. SALMON. I)ANIEL J. HEFFERNAN.

